Lorain County Dissolution Process

When a couple files for dissolution, they work together to ask the Court to agree with their plan to end their marriage. You will have to fill out a set of detailed forms and go to Court, but dissolution only takes 30 to 90 days from the time you file until your marriage ends. That is likely less time than it would take to get a divorce.

You can only get a dissolution if you and your spouse both agree on everything about ending the marriage. If you do not agree, you can consider filing for divorce instead. If you start the dissolution process, but then disagree before the dissolution is finalized, you will need to convert your dissolution into a divorce.

If you're in an abusive relationship, consider speaking with a lawyer. Abuse can complicate a dissolution. Working with a lawyer can help keep you safe while ending your marriage.

Talk with your spouse

Sit down with your spouse to talk about how you want things to be after your marriage ends. Make a list of what you need to decide, including:

• How you will divide up property and share responsibility for debt you have together
• If you or your spouse will pay spousal support to the other
• Who will have custody of your children and how much time the other will be able to spend with them
• If one of you will pay child support to the other

If you both agree on the answers to all of these questions, you will file together for dissolution. 

If you can't agree on those questions, you won't be able to get a dissolution. You may want to consider filing for a divorce instead, and the Court will help decide what's fair. 

Fill out the forms

On this site, you can use the Dissolution without Children or Dissolution with Children Form Assistant to fill out the forms you need to file with the Court. The Form Assistant will ask you some questions, which you can answer on any phone or computer. It can take a few hours to complete all the necessary information. You will be able to save your progress and return to complete your forms if you need to. 

Both you and your spouse will need to agree to all of the information in all of the forms.

Bring the forms to Court

Once you have completed the forms and are ready to file:

• Print your forms. You can print your forms at a public library. It costs about 10 cents per page. Learn about printing at the Lorain County Public Library System or the Elyria Public Library System.
• Sign your forms, with a notary if needed. Your forms will include a cover sheet. The cover sheet has instructions for signing your forms. Follow the instructions carefully. If your forms include an affidavit, you must sign the affidavit in front of a notary. You can find a notary by searching online for “a notary near me.” Do not sign the affidavit until you are in front of a notary. If your forms do not include an affidavit, you can sign them without a notary.
• Make copies of your forms. You are responsible for making copies of your forms for the Court. You can make copies at the public library for about 10 cents per page. Make 2 copies of your forms to give the Court. Make at least one extra copy for your records.
• Bring your forms to the Clerk of Courts. Go to the Clerk of Courts - Domestic Relations Division at the Lorain County Justice Center at 225 Court Street in Elyria to file your forms. 

There will be a fee when you file — $380 for a dissolution with children or $280 for a dissolution without children, as of February 2025.

If you have a low income and can’t afford the filing fee, you can choose to add a Poverty Affidavit to create an additional form to file with your packet of documents. This form asks that you be allowed to file without paying a fee upfront. You may still be responsible for paying the fee at the end of the case.

Prepare for the hearing

After you file your paperwork, the Court will schedule a final hearing 30 to 90 days from the date you filed. You and your spouse must attend this hearing.

Pay attention to any notices or communications you get from the Court.

If you and your spouse have children together, you will need to attend an educational seminar for parents sponsored by the Court. Look for a notice about the Seminar for Separating Parents.

Complete your judgment entry

Before your final hearing, you must prepare a proposed “Judgment Entry of Dissolution” that says what you want the Judge to include in the final dissolution order.

You can use the forms on this site to prepare your proposed judgment entry. Go to the form assistant for your case type:

• Judgment Entry for Dissolution with Children
• Judgment Entry for Dissolution without Children

Both you and your spouse will need to agree to all of the information in all of the forms.

Once you have completed your judgment entry:

• Print your forms. You can print your forms at a public library. It costs about 10 cents per page. Learn about printing at the Lorain County Public Library System or the Elyria Public Library System. Make at least one extra copy for your records.
• If your final hearing is on Zoom, bring your completed judgment entry to the Lorain County Justice Center at 225 Court Street in Elyria, at least 1 to 2 days before your final hearing. Drop off your forms with the Assignment Commissioners on the second floor. 
• If your final hearing is in person, bring a copy of your completed judgment entry to your final hearing.

Check the notice you get from the Court to find out where your final hearing will be. If you aren't sure, contact the Help Center at (440) 406-3288.

Attend the hearing together

You and your spouse must both go to the hearing. The Judge (or Magistrate) will ask you and your spouse questions about the agreements you filed to make sure neither of you have changed your mind about anything. If you or your spouse disagree at the hearing, the Judge may ask you to start the process over with a new dissolution or change your current case into a divorce.

It is the Judge’s job to make sure you and your spouse are both willing to end your marriage through the terms of your dissolution agreements, and neither of you is being forced. If the Judge agrees that the agreement is fair to both of you, the Judge will grant the dissolution and submit the judgment entry to the Clerk of Courts. 

After the hearing

Once the Judge has signed the "Judgment Entry of Dissolution” and it is filed with the Court, your dissolution is finalized.

You can get a certified copy of the judgment entry for a small fee from the Lorain County Domestic Relations Clerk of Courts.